Graphical user interface for an information mediation system

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface for an information mediation system is provided for assisting the user to discover an information source that matches a sense of value of the user which normally can not be explicitly expressed in language, from a plurality of information sources such as bulletin board sites. The information mediation apparatus collects information from the plurality of information sources, analyzes the information, and generates one or more guideposts corresponding to information values thereof and data indicating a correlation between the plurality of information sources relative to the guideposts. A client apparatus receives one or more guideposts and a set of data containing information indicating the correlation of the information sources relative to the guidepost from the information mediation apparatus, and displays the correlation between these information sources in such a mode that the user can easily understand.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present document is based on Japanese Priority DocumentJP2002-018890, filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jan. 28, 2002, theentire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a graphical user interface (GUI)for an information mediation system.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] In accordance with a recent development of communicationtechnologies and its pervasion into the society, information sourcesavailable on WWW (World Wide Web, hereinafter referred to as “Internet”)are increasing. As examples of such information sources, there areemerging, for example, a multimember participating intelligent activebody (a site where a plurality of persons exchange information andopinions via internet, which includes, for example, an electronicbulletin board system (BBS) and a network community (hereinafterreferred to as a community) such as a chat net system provided on theinternet) and other sites handling various contents such as pictureimages, paintings, music and so on. With an increasing number of theseinformation sources, it is becoming more difficult for a user to searchand find an information source which corresponds to his/her own sense ofvalue from an enormous number of information sources. Consequently,there is an increasing need for a development of a mechanism ofpresentation whereby the user can efficiently select an appropriateinformation source the user wants and participate therein.

[0006] As an example of conventional mechanisms of presentation forallowing the user efficiently to select an information source, there isa categorized classification display method.

[0007] In this method, various information sources are classified intoseveral categories in advance, for example, into “art and humanity”,“business and economy”, “computer and internet”, . . . , and respectivenames of categories are labeled for reference. When the user selects onefrom a plurality of names of categories, information sources belongingto this selected category are presented. Further, in most cases, it isgeneral that the category classification is given in a hierarchicalsystem. The hierarchical category classification system has such arepetitive structure that one category includes sub categories, and arespective sub category includes sub-sub categories, and so on. Forexample, the following repetitive structure may exist, “entertainment >movie, video > soundtrack > . . . .”

[0008] Further, as another example of conventional technologies forpresenting information sources to the user, there is a method ofpresenting a list/table of information sources extracted on the basis ofkeywords. In the keyword search method, a database in which informationsources and keywords extracted corresponding to the contents thereof areregistered is provided in advance, and when the user inputs a keyword ofinterest, any information source corresponding to the keyword ispresented. In this instance, generally, these keywords use a word as itappears in the contents of the information source. For example, “hobby”,“fishing” and the like keywords are used. Further, as the method ofdisplay in the case of presentation of the table or list, it will listin the order of freshness of information or in a descending order of thenumber of hits or coincidence of search.

[0009] The conventional methods of presentation of information sourcesdescribed above, however, have the following problems.

[0010] 1. The Categorized Classification Presentation Method

[0011] First of all, it is not always possible that the above-mentionedcategorized classification presentation method can efficiently provide asystematic classification of information sources the user actuallydesires. It is because that a respective information source has adifferent “information value” depending on various reasons such as apurpose of its foundation, idiosyncrasy of its producer, personality ofthe operator, propensity of participants, types and contents ofinformation to be treated in its information source, the number ofparticipants (many or few), activity, discussions, submission ofinquiries and solutions, expression of opinions, seeking friends,sharing of emotions, and so on. The “information value” refers toevaluation information given to an information source or to individualpieces of information contained in the information source, and, inparticular, it relates to evaluation information which moresignificantly and saliently indicates characteristics that an individualinformation source has over a whole entity of the information sources ofinterest.

[0012] On the other hand, each user seeks a different information valuedepending on one's own sense of values. For example, a user who is fondof a logical thinking will prefer logical topics generally, and a userwho weighs feelings will prefer sensitive topics.

[0013] In consideration of satisfaction of the user, it is desirable toprovide a method of presentation of information sources so that the usercan select in accordance with his/her own sense of values. However, thetypical conventional categorized classification presentation does notnecessarily agree with a classification presentation based on theinformation value. Further, it is generally difficult objectively todetermine an information value on an information source described aboveand label a category title thereon. Therefore, since the methods ofpresentation of information described above cannot present informationsources, the user can not efficiently select a correct informationsource the user actually wanted to access.

[0014] 2. Keyword Search Method

[0015] On the other hand, even in the keyword search method, a result ofpresentation of information obtained is not always in conformance withthe sense of values the user actually wanted to access. It is becausethat a user-designated keyword, for example, “logical” may not becontained in an information source that has actually an informationvalue desired, thereby, it often occurs to fail to hit and output theinformation source having the “information value” the user wanted toaccess even if searched using such keyword. Further, as compared with anordinary case of searching information on a specific topic by inputtinga keyword, it is generally difficult to explicitly express an“information value” corresponding to one's own sense of value intolanguage of keywords, except for a user who always performs aself-analysis of that sort. Still further, because the order ofpresentation of the information sources extracted and listed bysearching does not always coincide with the order of preference in thesense of values of the user, the user will have to browse the contentsof the whole information sources extracted, which, however, will beimpossible in practice as the number of the information sourcesextracted becomes enormous.

[0016] Thereby, according to the methods of presentation of informationdescribed above, it is difficult to present information for the user tobe able to efficiently select an object information source the userreally wants to access.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Contents and objects dealt with in the information sourcesavailable on the internet are multifaceted, and their information valuesare diversified and various. Even limiting to information sources of auser participating site, they extend very widely, and include a problemsolution, information exchange, opinion presentation, seeking friends,sharing emotions, contents exchange, artwork presentation and so on.Further, as to a way of expressing contents, although limited to suchinformation sources that can be expressed in characters, they arediversified to include from a logical sentence to a symbolic characterstring expressing emotions. A diversity of contents, objects,expressions and methods of expressions to be communicated with theinformation sources on the internet will be perceived as thecharacteristics and attributes thereof that have been developed andshaped by themselves as axes of the sense of values and the system ofthought belonging to respective information sources, while reflectingthereon various kinds of the sense of values of the participantsinvolved in these information sources, which hereinafter will bereferred to as a “communication value”. This communication value is anexample of the information values.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram describing the information value.The sense of values unique to a respective user based on a system ofthought and a desire of expression of the user will be referred to as a“user's sense of value”. An example of such user's sense of value mayinclude a “sense of values that places importance on logical discussion”or a “sense of values that places importance on sharing emotionalatmosphere using rich emotional expressions more than sticking to alogical conclusion”. It should be noted that the user himself/herself isnot always capable of expressing these senses of values explicitly inwords.

[0019] In FIG. 1, a first layer L1 represents an inner mental space ofthe user, a second layer L2 represents an information value space, and athird layer L3 represents a space including plural information sources.The information source may be such one that handles text information orone that handles non-language information such as picture image data orthe like. Further, it may be such one that is generated by a pluralityof participants like a bulletin board site, or one that is originated byone producer.

[0020] In a mental inner space 101, a user 100 may have one or moreaspects of sense of values 102 (hereinafter referred to as the “user'ssense of values”). For example, while in office the user may have asense of values placing emphasis on a logical point, the same user mayprefer to place on a sense of values of soothing feelings at home.

[0021] The second layer L2 represents an information value space 103which is a system comprising information values 104. By way of example,for derivation of the information value space, the analysis methoddisclosed in the “Method and Device for Analyzing Thought System”, JapanPatent Publication No. 2001-155063 may be used.

[0022] A plurality of information values 104 exist in the informationvalue space 103, and it is supposed that the user's sense of values 102described above corresponds to either one of the plurality ofinformation values 104, and the user 100 feels satisfaction to aspecific information source having the information value 104corresponding to his/her own user's sense of values 102. However, it isseldom a case that the user recognizes explicitly what the actual user'sown sense of values is, and it is difficult for the user to know such anaspect of the user's sense of values that may be contained in the deeppsyche. Thereby, it is very difficult to discover by himself/herself anadequate information value 104 that corresponds to the user's own senseof value 102.

[0023] The third layer L3 represents a space 105 comprising informationsources available on the internet, and includes a plurality ofinformation sources 106. Each of the plurality of information sources106 contains one or more pieces of information 107. The informationsource 106 may be such one that changes its contents from time to timewith addition of new information and deletion of obsolete information,or one that does not change its contents. Further, the one or morepieces of information 107 contained in the information source 106 may beinformation provided from a plurality of unspecified participants,information provided from specified one or more participants, or anyother information provided by any other manners.

[0024] Any information value 104 corresponding to any information source106 is one of important elements that determines characteristics and/orattributes of its information source. It is because that the informationvalue 104 reflects and signifies a context of the information and/ordirection of thinking belonging to the information source 106, and viathe assist of the information value 104, new participants increase andits intellectual activity further develops.

[0025] However, the conventional technologies have a problem that thesignification of information source 106 based on the information value104 has been difficult to realize.

[0026] The present invention is contemplated to signify and display theplurality of information sources 106 existing on the internet using itsinformation value 104 belonging to a respective information source. Forexample, as to a regularity of display according to a similarity, by useof the example of the method of analysis disclosed in the “Method andDevice for Analyzing Thought System” in the Japan Patent Publication No.2001-155063 described above, respective objects signifying respectiveinformation sources 106 having information values 104 of similarpropensities are disposed in proximity, or aligned on a same line.

[0027] Further, in derivation of the similarity among plural informationsources 106 regarding the information value 104, it does not need anyadditional step of evaluation or the like by the participants of thecommunity or by a person in charge of classification in the searchingsites (for example, a tabulation of questionnaires such as “Does thiscommunity place emphasis on a logical conclusion?” or the like), and,advantageously, it uses primary information belonging to the informationsource 106 as an element of analysis for the information value 104. The“primary information” refers to any information provided to theinformation source for achievement of the purpose of the informationsource 106, and includes, for example, contributions/opinions to thebulletin board sites, picture images at the museum sites, files ofmusical compositions at the musical sites, and so on.

[0028] In order to solve or alleviate the above-mentioned problemsassociated with the conventional technologies, a system according to thepresent invention has the following characteristics and advantages.

[0029] A graphical user interface according to an aspect of theinvention is for presenting a plurality of information sources to theuser, and is characterized by displaying information source displayobjects, each signifying each information source, disposed in aninformation value space on the basis of a correlation between theplurality of information sources obtained as a result of analysis.

[0030] An outer appearance of a respective information source displayobject is determined in accordance with an attribute and/orcharacteristic of a respective information resource correspondingthereto. As an example of the attribute or characteristic of theinformation source, an activity of the information source may beconsidered. Its activity may be determined by an increase of informationin the information source during a predetermined period of time (e.g.,the number of opinions presented to a bulletin board community).Alternatively, the activity may be determined by an interval betweenadditions of information within a predetermined period of time (e.g., aninterval between submissions of opinions).

[0031] As the attribute or characteristic of the information source,also there may be considered a yardstick of freshness of the informationsource. The “freshness” may be determined by a period of time elapsedsince the generation of the information source or by the last date ofaddition of information.

[0032] The “activity” described above may be indicated by a rotationspeed of the information source display object, and the “freshness”described above may be indicated by a shape of the information sourcedisplay object, or vice versa.

[0033] A graphical user interface system for presenting a plurality ofinformation sources to the user according to another aspect of theinvention is comprised of a first display region for displaying a wholeinformation value space including the information source display objectsbeing disposed on the basis of a correlation obtained by the analysisthereof between the plurality of information sources; and a seconddisplay region for displaying a specific region among the informationvalue space, which is contained in a virtual field of vision of theuser.

[0034] By provision of both the first display region and the seconddisplay region, the system has a function to be able to display theinformation value space including the plurality of information sourcedisplay objects to the user so as to be able to observe from amacroscopic viewpoint and a microscopic viewpoint.

[0035] The first display region has a function to indicate to the user apresent position of viewpoint in the information value spacecorresponding to an overall thought system.

[0036] The second display region enables for the user to scrutinize theinformation value space by shifting the viewpoint, zooming in and thelike.

[0037] A system according to still another aspect of the invention ischaracterized by further comprising a third display region fordisplaying a most update state of the information source display objectby recording and maintaining the same. By recording the informationsource display object from time to time so as to be able to confirmsingularly, it becomes possible to continuously observe a change in anyinformation source of interest signified thereby and correspondingthereto.

[0038] A system according to further another aspect of the invention ischaracterized by further comprising a fourth display region forrecording a field of vision designated by the user and displayingcontents of the information value space perceived at the designatedfield of vision in response to a request from the user, in the firstdisplay region described above. The provision of the fourth regionfacilitates observations of such changes in a specific area within theinformation value space through a fixed point observation, as emergenceof a new information source, extinction of a specific informationsource, relative positional changes of information sources (in itsinformation value or communication value), and the like.

[0039] According to the present invention, various information sourcesavailable on the internet can be displayed as signified and disposed inaccordance with its information value, thereby enabling for the user toperform a heuristic search, providing a means for efficiently searchingthrough information sources, scrutinizing and participating in theactivity in the information sources. Even if the user feels it is noteasy to express his/her own sense of value explicitly, according to thepresent invention, advantageously, a plurality of information sourceshaving equivalent or similar information values are disposed juxtaposedto one another. Therefore, by marking a typical guidepost leading to adesired information value or actually browsing contents of aninformation source or the like, if the user can find at least oneinformation source or a guidepost that matches his/her own sense ofvalue, an efficient search can be attained because it can be expectedwith a high certainty that other information sources disposed in thevicinity thereof are likely to have an equivalent or similar sense ofvalue.

[0040] Further, by provision of a guide data (such as a tube) suggestinga similarity in the information values for those objects existing withinthe tube, the user can easily recognize a tendency in the informationsources.

[0041] Still further, because only the primary information in theinformation source is used for analysis of information values, theanalysis can be executed without a need of addition of evaluation by theparticipants or the operator of the information sources.

[0042] Still more, by selecting an information source display object ondisplay simply by clicking with a mouse or the like, the content of theinformation source corresponding thereto is displayed, thereby enablingfor the user to select an appropriate information source moreconveniently and easily to participate therein.

[0043] Furthermore, by periodically acquiring the content of activityfrom the information source, the system is enabled always to display tothe user a most update status of the information value space.

[0044] According to the present invention, it is possible to presentinformation to the user capable of linking between the user and theinformation source whereby the user can easily discover the informationsource having an information value matching the sense of value of theuser.

[0045] Further, according to the present invention, even if the usercannot recognize his/her own sense of value explicitly, the user canreadily discover an information source having the information valuelikely matching his/her sense of value.

[0046] Still further, according to the present invention, because thatin the neighborhood of a specific information display object the user isinterested in, there are likely to be disposed more information displayobjects having the similar information values, the user by visitingthese information sources may discover uncultivated sense of value theuser was not aware of (for example, such as in taste and fondness).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the followingdescription of the presently preferred exemplary embodiment of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram explaining the information valueaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration ofan information mediation system linking between the user and a bulletinboard.

[0050]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram indicating a relation between aninformation mediation server, client equipment and a community spaceincluding a plurality of bulletin boards.

[0051]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram indicating another exemplaryconfiguration thereof, in which the information mediation server is notindependently installed.

[0052]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram indicating still another exemplaryconfiguration of the information mediation system of the embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0053]FIG. 6 is a block diagram indicating an exemplary configuration ofa bulletin board server and a bulletin board client unit.

[0054]FIG. 7 is a block diagram indicating an exemplary configuration ofan information mediation server and a client unit.

[0055]FIG. 8 shows an example of data structures of a display objectdatabase (DB).

[0056]FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration ofan analyzer.

[0057]FIG. 10 is a flowchart indicating algorithm for updatingattributes (such as activity) of each community.

[0058]FIG. 11 is a flowchart indicating update algorithm associated withthe analysis of the information value space.

[0059]FIG. 12 is a diagram depicting an example of information valuespace.

[0060]FIG. 13 is a diagram depicting an example of presentation of theinformation value space including guides.

[0061]FIG. 14 is a diagram depicting an example of display screen inwhich an object is activated by a predetermined operation of the user.

[0062]FIG. 15 is a diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of thegraphical user interface.

[0063]FIG. 16 is a diagram depicting information value space displayregions and an overall display region.

[0064]FIG. 17 is a diagram depicting an exemplary configuration of afixed point observation region.

[0065]FIG. 18 is a diagram depicting an exemplary data structure of aviewing point clipping region.

[0066]FIG. 19 is a diagram depicting another exemplary configuration ofthe graphical user interface.

[0067]FIG. 20 is a diagram depicting still another exemplaryconfiguration of the graphical user interface.

[0068]FIG. 21 is a diagram depicting still more another exemplaryconfiguration of the graphical user interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] By referring to the accompanying drawings, the informationmediation system according to the embodiment of the invention will bedescribed in detail in the following.

A First Preferred Embodiment

[0070] The first preferred embodiment of the present invention pertainsto a system that treats electronic bulletin boards on the internet(hereinafter, referred to as the bulletin board) as its informationsource 106. Here, the “bulletin board” refers to a web site establishedby a plurality of participants who take part therein, and its primaryinformation in the contents of its activity is supposed to be a piece ofinformation added to this information source from the users of thebulletin board, for example, such as a natural sentence written into thebulletin board by its user.

[0071] An Exemplary System Configuration

[0072]FIG. 2 is schematic block diagram showing an exemplary systemconfiguration of an information mediation system for linking the userthereof to a website bulletin board according to the embodiment of theinvention.

[0073] By referring to FIG. 2, the information mediation system has aninformation mediation server 202 connected to a communication network201, a bulletin board server 203 connected to the communication network201, and a client device 204 connectable with the information mediationserver 202 and the bulletin board server 203 via the communicationnetwork 201. By way of example, although only one bulletin board server203 is depicted typically, however, it should be understood that aplurality of bulletin board servers 203 exist.

[0074] Communication Network 201

[0075] The communication network 201 functions to enable a plurality ofapparatuses linked thereby to exchange information, without distinctionof a wired, wireless, a dedicated line, or a switched line once asession is established therebetween. A respective communication networkmay be implemented by combining a plurality of networks via a gatewaylike the internet. Further, as to its linkage, even if not directlyconnected to a base line, the so-called backbone, and temporarilyconnected by PPP (Point to Point Protocol) connection or the like, anytype of linkage will do provided that exchange of information is ensuredwhen a session is established therebetween. By the way, the“communication network” described above should be understood also toinclude any communication network having dedicated lines fixedly wiredand the like without switching equipment.

[0076] Information Mediation Server 202

[0077] The information mediation server 202 analyzes a correlationbetween a plurality of sites of bulletin boards supplied from aplurality of bulletin board servers 203 which are information sources106 on the basis of contents of the sites of bulletin boards (forexample, contributions to the bulletin boards), determines an index(guidepost) on the basis thereof, associates between the predeterminedguidepost and the site of the bulletin board, and generates informationto supply for displaying the predetermined guidepost and the site of thebulletin board on the client device.

[0078] The information mediation server 202 may be implemented using aninformation processing unit such as a computer, workstation or the like,having an arithmetic processor (CPU), a main memory (RAM), aread-only-memory (ROM), an input/output device (I/O), and an externalstorage such as a hard disk drive. A program for enabling theinformation processing unit to function as the information mediationserver 202 or a program for enabling an information mediation method tobe executed by the computer are stored in the ROM or the hard disk drivedescribed above. When these programs are loaded in the main memory to beexecuted by the computer, the information mediation server 202 isimplemented, or the information mediation method is executed. Further,the above-mentioned programs are not necessarily required to be storedin the memory device within the system, and may be supplied from anexternal device (such as an application service provider (ASP) server)then to be loaded on the main memory.

[0079] Bulletin Board Server 203

[0080] The bulletin board server 203, which is a server unit forrealizing one or more bulletin board sites, has a function to receivecontributions/opinions from the client device 204 of a contributor,store the contents thereof, and enable the contents of contributions tobe displayed at the client device in response to a request therefrom.

[0081] Client Device 204

[0082] The client device 204 has a function to receive information forenabling the predetermined index (guidepost/guide sign) and the bulletinboard site to be displayed at the client device from the informationmediation server 202, and to link the user and the bulletin board siteby processing for display thereof. The client device 204, which is aninformation processing device such as a computer, workstation, mobileterminal or the like which can be connected to the information mediationserver 202 via the communication network 201, includes, for example, acomputer, a mobile communication terminal or a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant) having a Web link function, installed with a so-calledbrowser which is a web document browsing software.

[0083] Bulletin Board Client Device 303

[0084] The bulletin board client device 303 has a function to allow fora client to read and contribute opinions to and from the bulletin boardsites supplied from the bulletin board server 203. The bulletin boardclient device 303, which is an information processing device such as acomputer, workstation, mobile terminal or the like which can beconnected to the bulletin board server 203 via the communication network201, includes, for example, a computer, a mobile communication terminalor a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) having a web link function,installed with a so-called browser which is a web document browsingsoftware.

[0085] By way of example, a single information processing unit may beallowed to function both as the client device 204 and the bulletin boardclient device 303.

[0086]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relation between the informationmediation server 202, the client device 204 and an information sourcespace 301 which contains a plurality of bulletin boards.

[0087] The information mediation server 202 has an information collector305 which is a means for obtaining contents of the plurality of bulletinboards 302 contained in the information source space 301, and ananalyzer 306 for analyzing an information value from the contents ofinformation obtained by the information collector 305. Further, theclient device 204 has a display 307 for displaying a result of analysisof the contents supplied from the information mediation server 202. Theinformation source space 301 includes a plurality of bulletin boards302, wherein each of the plurality of bulletin boards 302 receives andstores contributed opinions submitted from a bulletin board user 304 viaa bulletin board client device 303, and simultaneously presents thecontents of contributed opinions to the bulletin board user 304 via thebulletin board client device 303. By way of example, the bulletin boarduser 304 and the user 308 of the system of the present embodiment may bethe same or different persons.

[0088]FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting another exemplary systemconfiguration of the present embodiment, in which the informationmediation server 202 is not provided independently as shown in FIG. 3.In this exemplary modification, the information collector 305 as thedata acquisition means and the analyzer 306 are incorporated in theclient device 204 to be operated by the user 308.

[0089]FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting still another exemplary systemconfiguration according to the present embodiment. In this exemplarysystem configuration, such a case is shown, wherein the informationprocessing unit functioning as the information mediation server 202simultaneously functions also as the bulletin board server 203. Theembodiment of the invention may have various other modifications inaddition to the above-described system configuration.

[0090] In the following, the exemplary configuration of the informationmediation server 202, the bulletin board server 203, the client device204 and the bulletin board client device 303 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and3 will be described further in detail.

[0091] Exemplary Configuration of the Bulletin Board Server and theBulletin Board Client Device

[0092]FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary configuration ofthe bulletin board server 203 and the bulletin board client device 303of the present embodiment. The bulletin board server 203 has acommunication controller 601, a main controller 602, a displayinformation generator 603, a bulletin board content registrationprocessor 604 and a bulletin board content database (DB) 605. Thecommunication controller 601, which has a function to receive/sendinformation to/from the communication network, is a front endcommunication processor comprising a protocol stack, a CPU for executinga predetermined communication procedure in compliance with the protocolstack, and the like. The main controller 602, which controls thecommunication controller 601, the display information generator 603, andthe bulletin board content registration processor 604, has a function toreceive contributions/opinions from the bulletin board client device 303and supply data indicating the contents of the bulletin boards to thebulletin board client device 303. The display information generator 603has a function to generate a data (e.g., HTML document data containingcontribution contents) to be sent to the bulletin board client device303, on the basis of the data read from the bulletin board contentdatabase (DB) 605. The bulletin board content registration processor 604has a function to write contribution data sent from the bulletin boardclient device 303 into the bulletin board content database 605. Thebulletin board content database (DB) 605 has a function to storecontributed data to be readable and writable.

[0093] On the other hand, the bulletin board client device 303 has thefollowing structure. The bulletin board client device 303 has acommunication controller 606, a main controller 607, a display 608, andan input unit 609. The communication controller 606, which has afunction to receive/send information to/from the communication network201, is a front end communication processor comprising a protocol stack,a CPU for executing a predetermined communication procedure incompliance with the protocol stack, and the like. The communicationcontroller 606 may be installed in the bulletin board client device byan operating system (OS) such as Windows (Trademark of the MicrosoftCorporation).

[0094] The main controller 607, which has a function to control thecommunication, input, and display in the bulletin board client device303, is web-browser software, for example, such as Internet Explorer(Trademark of the Microsoft Corporation) or Netscape Communicator(Trademark of the Netscape Communications Corporation). The display 608,which is a device for displaying information to the user, may be aliquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or the like. The inputunit 609, which is a device for receiving input from the user, may be,for example, a keyboard, a pointing device or the like.

[0095]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration ofthe information mediation server 202 and the client device 204. Theinformation mediation server 202 has a communication controller 704, amain controller 705 and an information collector 305 connected to themain controller, a searcher 707 and a morpheme analyzer 706 connected tothe main controller 705, an analyzer 306 connected to the informationcollector 305, and a display object database (DB) 708 connected to themain controller 705, the information collector 305 as well as to theanalyzer 306.

[0096] The communication controller 704, which has a function toreceive/send information to/from the communication network 201, is afront end communication processor comprising, for example, a protocolstack, a CPU for executing a predetermined communication procedure incompliance with the protocol stack, and the like. The main controller705 has a function to control respective components and elements in theinformation mediation server 202. The morpheme analyzer 706 has afunction to analyze a searched sentence (natural sentence), and extracta word that agrees a predetermined condition from this natural sentence.The predetermined condition refers to a designated part of speech, aform of a searched keyword (as appeared or word stem) or the likecontained in the result of analysis. The searcher 707 has a function toreceive a search formula, and return an information source extracted asa result of search using the search formula. For example, the searcher707 executes searching of information sources which may include the wordextracted by the morpheme analyzer 706, and then returns a URI (UniformResource Indicator) which designates the information source thus havingbeen extracted as a result of searching.

[0097] The information collector 305 has a function to examine if thereis any addition to, correction or updating of a predeterminedinformation source and if so, to acquire the content thereof. By way ofexample, the information collector 305 may collect information from theinformation source 106 by patrolling like a search robot, or may acquireinformation as PUSH type information supplied from the informationsource 106.

[0098] The display object database 708 has a function to store data fordisplaying each information source in correlation with multifacetedinformation values. With reference to FIG. 8, there is shown an exampleof data structures of the display object database 708. FIG. 8 shows anexemplary structure of record for one bulletin board. The display objectdatabase 708 stores such record described above for each informationsource 106 (=bulletin board) which is an object of presentation.

[0099] The analyzer 306 has a function to analyze the contents stored inthe display object database 708 or collected by the informationcollector 305, derive multi-faceted information values 104, and tocorrelate thus derived information values 104 with the informationsource 106. By way of example, the analyzer 306 may be caused tofunction only when an overall axis of a space in which respectiveobjects signifying respective information sources 106 are displayed isto be altered, and this frequency of events may be, for example, once inseveral months or so.

[0100] By the way, respective components and elements in the informationmediation server 202 are not necessarily required to be installed withina single apparatus, but may be arranged separately in a plurality ofapparatuses linked mutually via a communication line or the like.

[0101] In the next, an exemplary configuration of the analyzer 306 willbe described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an exemplaryconstruction of the analyzer 306. In the example depicted in thedrawing, the analyzer 306 is comprised of a morpheme analyzer 901, amultivariate analyzer 902 connected thereto, a guidepost data generator903 connected to the multivariate analyzer 902, a guide data generator904, a base word coordinate value generator 905, and a databaseregistration controller 906 connected to the above-mentioned respectivegenerators.

[0102] The morpheme analyzer 901 has a function to analyze the naturalsentence or the like collected by the information collector 305, andextract words from the natural sentence that match a predeterminedcondition. The predetermined condition refers to a designated word orpart of speech contained in a result of analysis, a type of searchedkeyword (as appeared, or word stem), and the like. The multivariateanalyzer 902 analyzes information regarding respective bulletin boards(the data stored in the display object database (DB) 708 and/orcollected by the information collector 305) by a statistical method, andobtains a correlation or the like between the plurality of the bulletinboards. As one of the methods for implementing the multivariate analyzer902, the approach disclosed in the “Method and Device for AnalyzingThought System” in Japan Patent Publication No. 2001-155063 may beconsidered.

[0103] The guidepost data generator 903 has a function to generate adata for an object representing an information value of each bulletinboard on the basis of a result of analysis by the multivariate analyzer902. The guide data generator 904 generates a data for displaying a“tube”, which will be described later, on the basis of the result ofanalysis by the multivariate analyzer 902. The guide data refers to adata for visually displaying regularity in the arrangement ofinformation sources to the user. The base word coordinate valuegenerator 905 has a function to generate positional coordinates of arespective “base word” that functions as an index/guidepost whichconstitutes the information value space. The database (DB) registrationcontroller 906 functions as a database management system (DBMS) to writeand read the data generated by respective generator parts to and fromthe display object database 708.

[0104] By way of example, respective components and parts 901-906 in theanalyzer 306 described above are not necessarily required to beinstalled within a single apparatus, but may be distributed separatelyin a plurality of apparatuses (including the client device 204) whichare mutually linked via a communication line or the like.

[0105] Exemplary Operation of the Information Mediation Server

[0106] The information mediation server 202 generates information whichhelps to link between the user and a specific information source (inthis embodiment, a specific bulletin board) in response to a requestfrom the client device 204, on the basis of the data stored in thedisplay object database 708, and transmits this information to theclient device 204. This information which links between the user and thespecific information source is provided to the user as a user interfacedisplay in the client device 204. Further, the information mediationserver 202 executes a periodical monitoring process to be describedbelow.

[0107] Periodical Monitoring Process

[0108] Generally, in the case where each information source 104 has aproperty to grow and develop in scale with an increasing number ofparticipants, its information value and its information value space willchange with elapse of time. According to the present embodiment, byperiodically obtaining the contents reflecting this change from theinformation sources, new status of the information sources, theirinformation values and information value space can be presented to theuser. Algorithm of this periodical monitoring process is indicated inFIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 depicts algorithm for updating attributes (suchas activity) of respective information sources, and FIG. 11 depictsalgorithm for updating the information value space as a result of theanalysis. As for the former, because a load of its processing is lighterthan that of the latter, a high frequency updating is carried out so asto be able constantly to provide most update information and enhanceadvantageousness to the user.

[0109] By referring to FIG. 10, the information mediation server 202resets a timer (not shown) in step 1001. Then, it is checked in step1002 whether or not a preset period of time has elapsed after resettingthe timer. If the preset time has not elapsed, the process returns tostep 1002, and if elapsed, the information collector 305 is activated toexecute patrolling through respective bulletin boards and collectupdated pieces of information in step 1003. Then, the process returns tostep 1001 to repeat the same steps. Thereby, it becomes possible toperiodically collect and update the information of the bulletin boardwhich is subject to change, and provide information for linking betweenthe user and the information sources on the basis of the updatedinformation.

[0110]FIG. 11 depicts a flow of update processing of the informationvalue space in accordance with the analysis in the information mediationserver 202. At first, the information mediation server 202 resets thetimer (not shown) in step 1101. Then, in step 1102, it is checkedwhether or not the preset time has elapsed after resetting the timer. Ifthe preset time has not elapsed, the process returns to step 1102, andif elapsed, the information collector part 305 is activated to collectupdated information from respective information sources in step 1103. Onthe basis of the updated information collected and the informationalready stored, the analyzer part 306 analyzes a correlation and thelike between the respective information sources (the bulletin boards inthis embodiment) in step 1104. Then, coordinate values in theinformation value space, guidepost data, guide data, base wordcoordinate values and the like of an object representing an informationsource (hereinafter, referred to as the “information source displayobject”), which were generated on the basis of a result of the analysis,are written in the display object database 708 in step 1105.Subsequently, the process returns to step 1101 to repeat the sameprocessing.

[0111] An Exemplary Method of Displaying the Information Value Space inthe Client Device 204

[0112] In order to derive an information value of an information source104 (the bulletin board in the embodiment) and a correlation betweenrespective information sources, an information value space is consideredwhich is a system of information values formed by all of the pluralityof information sources of interest. For derivation of the informationvalue space, use of primary information contained in the informationsource is considered, and in the case where the bulletin board ishandled as the information source 104, contents of opinions submitted tothe bulletin board of interest may be used as elements of the analysis,and the method of analysis disclosed in the “Method and Device forAnalyzing Thought System” in Japan Patent Publication No. 2001-155063may be used.

[0113] Further, by the method disclosed in the aforementioned patentpublication, a respective information source display object (e.g., oneobject presents one bulletin board) can be laid out in the informationvalue space at a specific location corresponding to its informationvalue in consideration of the correlation between those of the objects.Among the plurality of the information source display objects thus laidout, such objects having similar or nearly equal information values arearranged in juxtapositions. According to this display (presentation)method, by browsing at least one information source (bulletin board),the user is allowed to infer an information value of another informationsource corresponding to another information source display object whichis juxtaposed to the display object of the at least one informationsource. Further, according to this method of display, by displaying atypical guidepost data representing information values corresponding toinformation source display objects disposed in the neighborhood, it isenabled for the user readily to know an information value of aninformation source signified by an information source display objectexisting in the vicinity of the guidepost data. Thereby, it becomespossible to find an appropriate information source containing theinformation value the user is looking for, and assist a heuristic searchassociated therewith. Still further, by displaying the guide data forvisually indicating some regularity in the layout of the informationsource display objects to the user in combination with the informationsource display object, the user can intuitively recognize thisregularity.

[0114] As described hereinabove, the information mediation server 202obtains the information capable of linking between the user and theinformation source, and provides this information to the client device204. The client device 204 processes the provided information by themain controller 702, and displays on the display 307 recognizable by theuser. In the following, a method of displaying the information forlinking the user with the information source, and a graphical userinterface realized by this method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described.

[0115]FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary information valuespace to be displayed according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. In this exemplary embodiment, the information value space isshown simulating a three-dimensional space (cosmic space). A pluralityof information sources (bulletin boards in this embodiment) exist insidethe three-dimensional space 1201, and respective information sources areindicated by information source display objects 1202 simulating galaxiesor stars. Respective information source display objects 1202 haverespective attributes represented by such as shapes, sizes, rotationspeeds, colors and the like. These attributes express characteristics ofrespective information sources corresponding to respective informationsource display objects 1202. Here, it is preferable to use a method ofexpression which is intuitively understandable to the user, for example,such that its shape expresses freshness of the information source, itssize expresses the number of constituent members of the informationsource, its rotation speed expresses activity (the number of opinionscontributed within a predetermined period of time, or the like) of theinformation source, and so on. Further, in the three-dimensional space1201, the viewing point of the user can be shifted freely, therebyallowing the user to observe the information source display objects 1202distributed in the three dimensional space 1201 from any position anddirection the user desires. For example, by allowing to move freely inany directions or to change the viewing direction freely, theinformation source display objects 1202 distributed within this spacecan be observed freely.

[0116]FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary information value space containingguide data according to the invention. In the drawing, within aninformation value space 1301, there are disposed information sourcedisplay objects 1202, tubes 1303 which are guide data, and base wordlabels 1302 which express guidepost data.

[0117] For example, according to the method of analysis disclosed in the“Method and Device for Analyzing Thought System”, Japan PatentPublication No. 2001-155063 described above, it is possible to arrangeinformation source display objects having the same tendency in theirinformation values to align on one linear line. In this case, byproviding a tube 1303 as a guide data typifying this linear line, amethod of displaying a direction of trend of respective informationsource display objects 1202 distributed within the information valuespace 1301 can be provided. For example, by choosing a certaininformation source display object 1202 existing in the periphery of asame tube 1303, the user is allowed readily to discover plural otherrelated information sources having a common information value. Further,by selecting at least one information source display object 1202 in aregion of the space where the user can discover many related guidepostdata 1302 corresponding to the user's own sense of value, the user isallowed readily to discover other related information source having theinformation value corresponding to the user's own sense of value. Stillfurther, by use of the non-language attributes such as the color, shape,texture, rotation speed and the like of a respective information sourcedisplay object as described above, a state (for example, activity,freshness and the like) of the information source corresponding theretois visually presented to the user, thereby allowing for the user torecognize the state of the information source intuitively.

[0118]FIG. 14 shows an example of display screens in the case where acertain information source display object 1202 in FIG. 13 is activatedby operation of the user (for example, clicking with a pointing device).The same drawing illustrates a state of the display screen where, byclicking of the information source display object 1202, a window 1401for displaying a bulletin board is generated, and the content of thebulletin board is displayed on the display 307 of the client device 204.Namely, by providing identification information (for example, URI(Universal Resource Identifier)) for identifying a respectiveinformation source corresponding to a respective information sourcedisplay object 1202 displayed, and when the user selects an informationsource display object to be processed by clicking the mouse or the like,the user can jump to the information source corresponding thereto andhave the contents thereof displayed on the display 307 of the clientdevice 307. Thereby, the user can hit more easily and conveniently anappropriate information source, browses the contents thereof, andparticipates therein.

[0119] An Exemplary Configuration of the Graphical User Interface

[0120] By referring to FIGS. 15-18, exemplary configurations of agraphical user interface (hereinafter, referred to as GUI) to beprovided via the display 307 of the client device 204 will be described.FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of GUI fordisplaying the information, which links between the user and theinformation source and is supplied from the information mediation server202, by the client device 204. FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagramillustrating a plurality of information value space display regions 1502and an entire display region 1503. FIG. 17 shows an example of aninformation source fixed-point observation region, and FIG. 18 is atable showing an exemplary structure of a viewing point clipping region.

[0121] In the example shown in FIG. 15, a GUI for displaying informationfor linking between the user and the information source is generated ina window 1501. This GUI has the information value space display region1502, the entire display region 1503, a field of vision operating region1504, a search word input region 1505, an information source fixed-pointobservation region 1506, an attribute display region 1507, and a viewingpoint clipping region 1508.

[0122] The information value space display region 1502 has a function todisplay an information value space in a field of vision designated bythe user. The information value space display region 1502 displays theinformation source display objects 1202, the guidepost data 1302, andthe guide data 1303 that are contained in the field of vision designatedby the user, in accordance with their respective positional relations,and displays a three-dimensional virtual space as shown, for example, inFIGS. 12, 13. By way of example, the guidepost data 1302 and the guidedata 1303 are not always required to be displayed, and thus the user maychoose whether to display or not.

[0123] As for the information source display object 1202, it has anappearance that represents attributes and/or characteristics of theinformation source corresponding thereto. For example, in accordancewith freshness of the information source, the shape of the informationsource display object 1202 may be formed into a triangular pyramid, acube, a polyhedron or the like. Further, in accordance with activity ofthe information source, the rotation of the information source displayobject 1202 may be varied, or stopped. Still further, as anotherexample, the information source display object 1202 representing theinformation source and having been already browsed by the user may bepainted in a predetermined color (for example, in red). Furthermore, asstill another example, the information source display object 1202representing the information source hit in the search from the searchinput region 1505 may be enhanced of its brightness than that of theother information source display objects 1202. By way of example, theappearance of the information source display object 1202 indicative ofthe attributes and/or characteristics of its information source is notlimited to those described above, and any other appearance elements orforms that can be expressed in the client device 204 may be used.Various other elements of appearance or the like thereof may beconsidered for indicating the attributes and/or characteristics of theinformation source, in addition to the color, brightness, and brillianceof the information source display objects 1202. For example, theattributes and characteristics of the information sources may berepresented by a pattern, texture to be pasted on its information sourcedisplay object or by a blinking speed thereof, a rhythm of itspulsation, a direction of rotation thereof, and the like.

[0124] The entire display region 1503 has a function to display a wholeportion of the information value space, and is a region for indicating arelation between a region represented by each information value spacedisplay region 1502 and the entire information value space. By thedisplay of the entire display region 1503, the user can know at whichposition in the information value space the user is now standing, andlooking at which direction. The field of vision operating region 1504has a tool whereby the field of vision within the information valuespace can be altered arbitrarily. For example, the field of visionoperating region 1504 has a crisscross switch for rotating a viewingdirection of the field of vision in the vertical and horizontaldirections, a plus and a minus keys for moving a viewing point of thefield of vision in depth directions (perpendicular directions withrespect to the plane of the drawing). By operating these keys, the usercan alter the field of vision in the information value space, and inaccompaniment with these operation, contents to be displayed in theinformation value space display region 1502 are changed in linkagetherewith.

[0125] By referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the shift in the field ofvision, and the relation between the information value space displayregion 1502 and the entire display region 1503 will be described. Firstof all, in the information value space 1301, the user views through theinformation value space 1301 from a viewing position 1602 ₁ so as tohave a field of vision 1601 ₁. At this time, in the field of vision 1601₁ there are included two information source display objects 1202 ₁ and1202 ₂. Thereby, in the information value space display region 1502there are displayed these two information source display objects 1202 ₁and 1202 ₂.

[0126] Then, the user performs the rotation operation using the field ofvision operating region 1504 so as to shift to have a field of vision1601 ₂. In the field of vision 1601 ₂ there are included two differentinformation source display objects 1202 ₃ and 1202 ₄. Thereby, contentsto be displayed in the information value space region 1502 are alteredin accordance with a change in the field of vision. Consequently, thetwo different information source display objects 1202 ₃ and 1202 ₄ arenewly displayed in the information value space display region 1502, andthe other two information source display objects 1202 ₁ and 1202 ₂ whichare now outside the field of vision 1601 ₂ are not displayed in theinformation value space display region 1502. Then, using the field ofvision operating region 1504, the user moves the viewing point from theviewing position 1602 ₁ to a viewing position 1602 ₂. Thereby, the fieldof vision changes from the field of vision 1601 ₂ to a field of vision1601 ₃, and in a new information value space display region 1502 thereare displayed three different information source display objects 1202 ₅,1202 ₆ and 12027 ₇.

[0127] By shifting and changing the fields of vision appropriately asdescribed above, the user is allowed to view through any and everyregion in the information value space. Further, in accompaniment withthe virtual shifting of the viewing point of the user, a method ofpresentation of the information display objects and/or the guidepostobjects may be changed. For example, when viewing from a remotedistance, a small number of guideposts are displayed in perspective, andwhen viewing from a nearer point, a greater number of guideposts aredisplayed more in detail. By controlling a quantity of information to bedisplayed as described above, the quantity of information for the userto overview at a glance can be accommodated within an appropriateextent, thereby making it easier to observe and recognize the contentsin the information value space.

[0128] On the other hand, the entire display region 1503 allowsdisplaying the information value space 1301 as viewed from the viewingposition 1603 at which the whole portion of the information value space1301 can be looked over. Further, a current position of the viewingpoint of the user may be displayed within the information value space1301 as well. Thereby, the user can recognize immediately at whichposition in the information value space 1301 the user is now standingand provide a yardstick to estimate at which direction the user shouldmove in the next step.

[0129] Now, the search word inputting region 1505 will be described. Thesearch word inputting region 1505 is a region for receiving a searchword from the user. The search word accepted is passed to the searcher707 in the information mediation server 202. The searcher 707 identifiesan information source containing the search word, and notifies theclient device 204 of this identification. The client device 204 displaysaccording to a predetermined method to the user the information sourcedisplay object 1202 corresponding to the information source having beennotified. As the predetermined method, it may be considered to changethe color of the object, to blink or the like.

[0130] A fixed-point observation region 1506 will be described. Thefixed-point observation region 1506 has a function to record aninformation source display object 1202 the user wants continuously toobserve, and display an update state of the information source displayobject 1202 recorded. FIG. 17 shows an exemplary arrangement in thefixed-point observation region 1506. The fixed-point observation region1506 has one or more recording areas 1701. By dragging an informationsource display object 1202 with a pointing device to either one of therecording areas 1701, a copy of the information source display object1202 or of an information source display object having a display modeaccompanying further detailed information is generated in thefixed-point observation region 1506 and stored. The information sourcedisplay object 1202 to be displayed in this fixed-point observationregion 1506 is caused to correspond to the most update information fromthe information mediation server 202, thereby indicating a current stateresponsive to a change in the information source corresponding thereto.Thereby, without a need of shifting in the information value space usingthe field of vision operating region 1504, the user is allowed at anytime to observe the information source display objects 1202 or accessthe information source thereby merely by referring to the fixed-pointobservation region 1506. Further, by observing the display modeaccompanying more detailed information, the user can learn the detailedinformation. Here, as an example of the display mode accompanying themore detailed information, it may include such an instance in which itsrotation speed, for example, is converted into more minute steps thanthat of the information source display object 1202, or the like.

[0131] In the next, the attribute display region 1507 will be described.The attribute display region 1507 has a function to display detailedinformation regarding an information source display object 1202designated by the user. As an example of the detailed information, theremay be included its title, site name, top category, the last updateddate, the total number of opinions and so on. The designation of theinformation source display object 1202 by the user is performed by apointer over operation, clicking or the like.

[0132] A viewing point clipping region 1508 will now be described. Theviewing point clipping region 1508 has a function to record the field ofvision (including a viewing position and a direction of the field ofvision) designated by the user, and to display the contents of theinformation value space contained in the recorded field of vision on theinformation value space display region 1502 in response to a requestfrom the user. FIG. 18 is a table depicting an exemplary structure ofthe viewing point clipping region 1508. In this exemplary construction,the viewing point clipping region 1508 has a viewing point clippingdisplay region 1801, a register button 1805 and a delete button 1806.The viewing point clipping display region 1801 has a function to displayone record per viewing point information recorded. Each record has acoordinate position 1802 indicating its viewing position, a viewingdirection 1803 indicating the direction of its field of view,information 1804 relating to voting data in the neighborhood of thefixed point, and the like. In the instance shown in FIG. 18, recordsR1801, R1802 and R1803 corresponding to the three different fields ofvision 1601 ₁, 1601 ₂ and 1601 ₃ shown in FIG. 16 are recorded,respectively. By designating any of these records by clicking orpressing the enter key, the user is enabled to have the field of visioncorresponding to this designated record displayed in the informationvalue space display region 1502.

[0133] Further, activating the register button 1805 by clicking orpressing the enter key, the user is allowed to record new viewing pointinformation. When the new viewing point information is recorded, a newrecord is displayed on the viewing point clipping display region 1801.Further, when the user activates the delete button 1806 by clicking orpressing the enter key after designating any one of the records of thefixed point information, its record on the fixed point information canbe deleted.

[0134] Modifications

[0135] The present invention may be applied also to a system whichexhibits and/or reproduces painting, pictures, images, motion pictures,and audio files as information sources to the user. Further, ifinformation which visually represents contents of the paintings,pictures, images, motion pictures or the like is used as the informationsource display object of the embodiment, because each visual informationsource display object can function as the guidepost data by itself, itcan assist a heuristic search by the user without a need of provision ofthe guidepost data.

[0136] Others

[0137] Further, the information sources that can be handled by thesystem according to present the invention are not limited to theinformation sites such as electronic bulletin board system or the like,and any other information sources may be handled likewise. Stillfurther, as the information that can be analyzed by the informationmediation server 202, there is the “natural sentence” submitted as anopinion to the bulletin board. However, the present invention can beapplied also to such a community where, instead of the natural sentenceor in combination with the natural sentence, non-language elements suchas a picture image, painting, movie (a cut or scene thereof addressed toas elements of analysis), music (artists or song phrases addressed to aselements of analysis) are used as a means of communication, or even tothe non-language element itself.

[0138] Examples of modifications of the present invention that uses suchnon-language elements will be described.

[0139] (1) Virtual Museum Site

[0140]FIG. 19 shows an example of displays of the GUI (the informationvalue space display region) according to the invention wherein theinformation source is a virtual museum site. In the drawing, in theinformation value space display region 1901, there are arranged anddisplayed thumbnails 1902 of picture images as the information sourcedisplay objects. The thumbnails 1902 are thumbnails of paintingscollected by the virtual museum site. The user can search paintingsheuristically on the basis of his/her preference and liking whileviewing through the thumbnails. Upon discovery of a picture image ofhis/her liking, and when the user clicks the thumbnail 1902 of thatpicture image or the like, it jumps to the virtual museum site, enablingthe user to observe the collection of paintings and the like at thevirtual museum site.

[0141] (2) Pet Photographs

[0142]FIG. 20 is an example of displays according to the GUI of theinvention where thumbnails of picture images are used as the informationsource display objects. Here, the picture images are photographs of petanimals selected by a participant. In this drawing, in the informationvalue space display region 2001, there are disposed thumbnails 2002 ofthe picture images as the information source display objects. Thesethumbnails are photographs of pets selected by the participant. Whichphotograph of what kind of pets to choose is considered to reflect anindividual propensity and/or a lifestyle of a participant. Thus, byvisiting the site and viewing through the thumbnails 2002 disposed inthe information value space display region 2001, the user may discovernot only a pet that matches or nearly matches his/her own sense ofvalue, but also other participants who have the same or similarpropensity and/or lifestyle.

[0143] (3) Music Sites

[0144]FIG. 21 is an example of displays according to the GUI of thepresent invention, where an object for reproducing a whole of a musiccomposition or a part thereof (e.g. a starting part) is used as theinformation source display object, and wherein all of the informationsource display objects is represented by a small spherical object. InFIG. 21, in its information value space display region 2101, there aredistributed small spherical objects 2102 as the information sourcedisplay objects. This spherical object, when activated by the user,enables to reproduce the whole portions or a part of a musiccomposition. While searching through the information value space byreproducing the whole portions or parts of the music compositions, theuser is enabled to search a music composition the user likes.

[0145] As described hereinabove, the present invention can be appliedalso to such instances where the non-language elements are used.

[0146] The configurations of the user interface according to theembodiment of the present invention described hereinabove are onlyexemplary, and the invention is not limited thereto, and obviously manychanges, variations and combination are possible herein. It is thereforeto be understood that any modifications will be practiced otherwise thanas specifically described herein without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A graphical user interface for an informationmediation system, comprising displaying a plurality of informationsource display objects disposed in an information value space on thebasis of a correlation obtained as a result of overall analysis of aplurality of information sources.
 2. The graphical user interfaceaccording to claim 1, wherein an appearance of each of said plurality ofinformation source display objects is determined by an attribute orcharacteristic of each of said plurality of information sources.
 3. Thegraphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein activity of eachof said plurality of information sources is indicated by a rotation ofeach of said plurality of information source display objects.
 4. Thegraphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein freshness of eachof said plurality of information sources is indicated by a form of eachof said plurality of information source display objects.
 5. A graphicaluser interface for presenting a plurality of information sources to auser, comprising: a first display region for displaying a whole portionof a plurality of information value spaces, each containing a pluralityof information source display objects that are disposed on the basis ofa correlation obtained as a result of analysis of said plurality ofinformation sources; and a second display region for displaying a regionamong said one or more information value spaces that are contained in avirtual field of vision of a user.
 6. The graphical user interfaceaccording to claim 5, wherein said virtual field of vision of the useris rotatable and movable in said one or more information spaces inresponse to a user operation.
 7. The graphical user interface accordingto claim 5, wherein an attribute of each of said plurality ofinformation source display objects is changed by shifting of a virtualviewing point of the user.
 8. The graphical user interface according toclaim 5, further comprising a third region for displaying a most recentstate of said information source display object by recording aninformation source display object.
 9. The graphical user interfaceaccording to claim 5, further comprising a fourth region for recording afield of vision designated by the user and for displaying in said firstdisplay region a content of said information value space contained insaid field of vision recorded in response to a request from the user.